Writing Assignment

                  Nowadays people from all walk of  life  particulary parents are worried and concerned regarding their childrens studies and attitudes. 90% of the parents complained that their children failed to decide the appopriate collegues or unversities that they wanted to futher their studies once they have completed their secondary studies.Students failed to decide a appopriate unversity to further their studies because they are lack of knowlegde regarding how to make a good selection of collegues and unversities.In order to make a good selection of unversities  before applying ,a student should consider few factors related to the choosen collegues or unversities such as the course offered,facilities provided and regarding the certificate that we would receive upon graduation is verified by the goverment or not.

             Talking about the course offered as one of important factor that we should take into our consideration before applying to that  particular collegues or unversities.We can make the best choice of cources by searching on the internet.It would be a plus point for us on which through it we does not only able to survey related the courses but we are also be able to find out the duration of the  particular course,fee,accomodation and more related the course offered by the particular collegues or unversities.By this we able to make the best choice  of  course and we also able to find out either we are eligible for the particular course or not.

Besides searching on the course offered students also have to take into consideration regarding the adequate facilities provided by the particular collegues or unversities for the students.In this case parents play a major role once their children choose a collegues or unversities,parennts have to survey throughly wheter the particular collegues or unversities provide proper house and avilability of other facilitesb such as food stalls,glocery shop surrrounding the students hostel .This is because some of the big collegues or unversities in urban areas tends to cheat the parents and students by showing the better side of their institution,hostels and facilites that they provide.Thus proper survey regarding the facilities is very important in order to prevent the students from suffering.

         Other than giving important consideration to the course offered,adequate facilities provided we should ensure the certificate that we receive upon graduation is verifield by the goverment.This is very important in order to feel secure about the future upon graduation .As stated recently in the newspaper few big collegues inthe urban areas failed to gat verification from goverments because their collegues is not fully recognized by others,no adequate learning facilities,not talented lecturer and more.Thus student who was futhering their studies in that particular collegues have to stop course.It is not only wasting up ample of money even the precious time.Besides that,if you graduation certificate is not verifield by the goverment sector chances of getting job is really low and you might have to repeat the same course in other collegues or unversities.

            Thus,this are the few factors that we as a students have to a take into consideration before furthering our studies.We also have to ensure that the collegues or unversities conduct thier courses in English.Because of the global importantance of  English a graduate from an English language based course would have a better future.

Heart Attack

What Is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.

Heart attack is a leading killer of both men and women in the United States. But fortunately, today there are excellent treatments for heart attack that can save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms. If you think you or someone you’re with is having a heart attack, call 9–1–1 right away.

Overview

Heart attacks occur most often as a result of a condition called coronary artery disease(CAD). In CAD, a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up over many years on the inside walls of the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to your heart). Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery.

Heart With Muscle Damage and a Blocked Artery

Figure A is an overview of a heart and coronary artery showing damage (dead heart muscle) caused by a heart attack. Figure B is a cross-section of the coronary artery with plaque buildup and a blood clot.

During a heart attack, if the blockage in the coronary artery isn’t treated quickly, the heart muscle will begin to die and be replaced by scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems.

Severe problems linked to heart attack can include heart failure and life-threateningarrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood throughout the body. Ventricular fibrillation is a serious arrhythmia that can cause death if not treated quickly.

Get Help Quickly

Acting fast at the first sign of heart attack symptoms can save your life and limit damage to your heart. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms.

The most common heart attack signs and symptoms are:

• Chest discomfort or pain—uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
• Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.
• Other signs include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

If you think you or someone you know may be having a heart attack:

• Call 9–1–1 within a few minutes—5 at the most—of the start of symptoms.
• If your symptoms stop completely in less than 5 minutes, still call your doctor.
• Only take an ambulance to the hospital. Going in a private car can delay treatment.
• Take a nitroglycerin pill if your doctor has prescribed this type of medicine.

Outlook

Each year, about 1.1 million people in the United States have heart attacks, and almost half of them die. CAD, which often results in a heart attack, is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States.

Many more people could recover from heart attacks if they got help faster. Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital.

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome and thrombosis

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque ruptures, leading to thrombus formation within a coronary artery.Patients who develop symptoms consistent with ACS, such as chest pain and diaphoresis, require timely evaluation to determine the cause. When ACS is diagnosed, further stratification into categories of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina guides therapeutic decision-making. Following recovery from an episode of ACS, patients continue to be at heightened risk of heart attack and stroke, for which a range of secondary preventive treatments are available.

Three types of risk in ACS

There are three types of risk to consider in ACS.^9, 83, 84

• Physicians in the emergency care setting must assess the potential for acute, life-threatening disease when diagnosing the cause of chest pain or other symptoms that might indicate ACS
• After ACS is recognised, diagnostic acumen is required to stratify the patient as having either unstable angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), or ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
• Patients who survive an episode of ACS are at heightened risk of recurrent ACS and stroke

ECG showing NSTEMI

Risk assessment in ACS

Risk assessment is a key step in the emergency management of patients with ACS. Stratifying patients by likelihood of morbidity and mortality guides management decisions. A range of risk-scoring systems have been devised to enable clinicians to select the appropriate antithrombotic or fibrinolytic therapy.

Patients with complete occlusion of a coronary artery can often be identified by ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram (ECG). This group, representing approximately one in three patients presenting withACS, should receive prompt reperfusion treatment with fibrinolytic therapy or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The remaining two thirds of ACS patients do not have ST-segment elevation on initial ECG and require further risk stratification.
Serial evaluation of biomarkers, including troponin, C-reactive peptide, and B-type natriuretic peptide, provide independent, additive prognostic data to complement history and physical examination findings and ECG results.These findings determine whether the problem is non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina; the urgency of treatment for these conditions varies depending on a patient’s specific clinical situation.

Coronary thrombosis, image 2 of 4

Long-term risks following ACS

The risk of cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), or progression to MI in patients initially presenting with unstable angina is greatest during the first two months after the acute event. Subsequently, the clinical course of most patients with ACS is similar to that of patients with chronic stable coronary disease.


Because atherosclerotic plaque is often present throughout the arterial tree, patients who survive an episode of ACS live with an ongoing risk of a recurrent acute cardiovascular event, such as MI, sudden cardiac death, or stroke. For patients who received a drug-eluting stent during revascularisation, there is an additional risk of late in-stent thrombosis.


A wide range of treatments are available to protect the heart and to decrease the propensity for recurrent atherothrombosis in survivors of ACS.

Stress Management Stress Management "HOW TO REDUCE, PREVENT, AND COPE WITH STRESS"

It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about your stress level. The bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, and your career or family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.

Identify the sources of stress in your life

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress.

To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses:

• Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather?
• Do you define stress as an integral part of your work or home life (“Things are always crazy around here”) or as a part of your personality (“I have a lot of nervous energy, that’s all”).
• Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events, or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional?

Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.

Start a stress journal

A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Write down:

• What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure).
• How you felt, both physically and emotionally.
• How you acted in response.
• What you did to make yourself feel better.

Look at how you currently cope with stress

Think about the ways you currently manage and cope with stress in your life. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem.

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress

These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run:

Smoking Drinking too much Overeating or undereating Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities

Using pills or drugs to relax       Sleeping too much Procrastinating Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence)

Learning healthier ways to manage stress

If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

Dealing with Stressful Situations: The Four A’s

Change the situation: Avoid the stressor. Alter the stressor.

Change your reaction: Adapt to the stressor. Accept the stressor.

Stress management strategy #1: Avoid unnecessary stress

Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.

• Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.
• Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely. 
• Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
• Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
• Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.

Stress management strategy #2: Alter the situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely remain the same.
• Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.
• Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk.
• Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When you’re stretched too thin and running behind, it’s hard to stay calm and focused. But if you plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself, you can alter the amount of stress you’re under.

Stress management strategy #3: Adapt to the stressor

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude.

• Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.
• Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.
• Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”
• Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective.

Adjusting Your Attitude

How you think can have a profound affect on your emotional and physical well-being. Each time you think a negative thought about yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a tension-filled situation. If you see good things about yourself, you are more likely to feel good; the reverse is also true. Eliminate words such as "always," "never," "should," and "must." These are telltale marks of self-defeating thoughts.

Source: National Victim Assistance Academy, U.S. Department of Justice

Stress management strategy #4: Accept the things you can’t change

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change.

• Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control— particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.
• Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes.
• Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.
• Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.

Stress management strategy #5: Make time for fun and relaxation

Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.

Healthy ways to relax and recharge

Go for a walk. Spend time in nature. Call a good friend. Sweat out tension with a good workout. Write in your journal. Take a long bath. Light scented candles

Savor a warm cup of coffee or tea. Play with a pet. Work in your garden. Get a massage. Curl up with a good book. Listen to music. Watch a comedy

Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that you forget to take care of your own needs. Nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.

• Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
• Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
• Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.
• Keep your sense of humor. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

Learn the relaxation response

You can control your stress levels with relaxation techniques that evoke the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. Regularly practicing these techniques will build your physical and emotional resilience, heal your body, and boost your overall feelings of joy and equanimity.

Stress management strategy #6: Adopt a healthy lifestyle

You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health. 

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.
• Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
• Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
• Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

Parkinson Disesase

What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders, which are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The four primary symptoms of PD are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. As these symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. PD usually affects people over the age of 50.  Early symptoms of PD are subtle and occur gradually.  In some people the disease progresses more quickly than in others.  As the disease progresses, the shaking, or tremor, which affects the majority of PD patients may begin to interfere with daily activities.  Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.  There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing sporadic PD.  Therefore the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination.  The disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately.   Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.

Is there any treatment?

At present, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications provide dramatic relief from the symptoms.  Usually, patients are given levodopa combined with carbidopa.  Carbidopa delays the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain.  Nerve cells can use levodopa to make dopamine and replenish the brain's dwindling supply.  Although levodopa helps at least three-quarters of parkinsonian cases, not all symptoms respond equally to the drug. Bradykinesia and rigidity respond best, while tremor may be only marginally reduced. Problems with balance and other symptoms may not be alleviated at all.  Anticholinergics may help control tremor and rigidity.  Other drugs, such as bromocriptine, pramipexole, and ropinirole, mimic the role of dopamine in the brain, causing the neurons to react as they would to dopamine.  An antiviral drug, amantadine, also appears to reduce symptoms.  In May 2006, the FDA approved rasagiline to be used along with levodopa for patients with advanced PD or as a single-drug treatment for early PD. 

In some cases, surgery may be appropriate if the disease doesn't respond to drugs. A therapy called deep brain stimulation (DBS) has now been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In DBS, electrodes are implanted into the brain and connected to a small electrical device called a pulse generator that can be externally programmed. DBS can reduce the need for levodopa and related drugs, which in turn decreases the involuntary movements called dyskinesias that are a common side effect of levodopa. It also helps to alleviate fluctuations of symptoms and to reduce tremors, slowness of movements, and gait problems. DBS requires careful programming of the stimulator device in order to work correctly.

What is the prognosis?

PD is both chronic, meaning it persists over a long period of time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time.  Although some people become severely disabled, others experience only minor motor disruptions. Tremor is the major symptom for some patients, while for others tremor is only a minor complaint and other symptoms are more troublesome.  No one can predict which symptoms will affect an individual patient, and the intensity of the symptoms also varies from person to person.

What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts PD research in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and also supports additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country.  Current research programs funded by the NINDS are using animal models to study how the disease progresses and to develop new drug therapies. Scientists looking for the cause of PD continue to search for possible environmental factors, such as toxins, that may trigger the disorder, and study genetic factors to determine how defective genes play a role.  Other scientists are working to develop new protective drugs that can delay, prevent, or reverse the disease.

How To Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the easiest thing to do, provided you know the right tricks. Excess stress jolts your mind and you will see its spill-over effect in every aspect of your life. The key to counter daily pressures and stress is to lead a healthy life and develop healthy habits. You will find your productivity visibly enhanced and your mental framework quite positive, if you follow a healthy way of life. The article brings you some valuable tips on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Read on and know the secrets behind a wholesome life

Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle

Go for A Healthy Diet

The first step towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to eat healthy. Poor nutrition adversely affects your health, so you need to ensure that all the essential nutrients are well balanced in your diet. Healthy food will enhance your physical and mental stamina, enabling you to cope up with the pressures of daily life more efficiently. Include vitamins, proteins and minerals in your diet, so that your body gets its due share of nutrition.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise is as important as healthy food habits, to maintain a competent lifestyle. Some people eat well, but avoid working out. The benefits of exercise have been proved time and again and don't need any further advocacy. If your working schedule is too hectic to allow you any time for exercise, try to find other ways of working out. For instance, shun the elevators and climb up the stairs to your office. You can also walk till the market, rather than rolling out your car every time you want to buy something.

Take Proper Sleep

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will become impossible with a lack of proper sleep. Never compromise with yoursleeping hours, under any circumstance. Less sleep hampers your efficiency by making you feel lazy and inactive. Try to establish a fixed bed time routine and follow it religiously. You should get up in the morning feeling fresh and active, raring to go!

Take Time-Outs And Relax

No matter how busy you keep, take a breather once in a while, to rejuvenate your mind and recharge your batteries. Life, especially in the present times, is too demanding and challenging, and as such, it becomes important to relax. Chill out to de-stress yourself. To maintain a lifestyle that is healthy, it is important to feel happy and stress-free. You can also go on occasional vacations, to dump all your worries aside and get on with the fun in life.

Organize Your Activities

In the run up to a healthy lifestyle, we often fail to prioritize, rather organize our activities well. You may want to incorporate some form of exercise in your daily routine, but end up completing some other important task in your scheduled workout time. Always remember that an organized lifestyle is a competent lifestyle. Systematize your tasks and get rid of the habit to procrastinate. There is nothing like a well-arranged day, to live a healthy life.

Poem For Nurses

Hearts of Gold 
Sherry York
There are times in our lives when we sit down and wonder where our lives will lead us.
Sometimes we get so caught up in our jobs that we forget what we truly represent.
We get frustrated, aggravated, pushed to the limits and so mentally tired that we feel what is the use in being a Nurse.
But then someone gives us a weak smile or holds our hand and may say "thank you, you are so special."
The we feel the warmth growing in our hearts.
All the bad feelings disappear and replaced by the core values that we present:
   human dignity, compassion, dedication, integrity, stewardship, leadership and excellence.
So when the bad feelins begin to show take the times to say this prayer:
    Lord, help me to bring comfort where there is pain.
    Courage where there is despair.
    Acceptance when the end is near.
A touch gentle with tenderness, patience, and love.
And, always remember, all Nurses are truly blessed.
For you see --- God gave of Hearts of Gold. 
Why Do I do This? 
Ashley Lipscomb, Student NyrseWhy do I study all hours of the night? Why do I put up such  a fight? I do it because one day I will celebrate new baby born. And, one day help a family mourn. It makes me have courage and determination. It teaches me how to handle my  dissatisfaction. Some people will curse or bless you. But every day they will teach you something new. That is why I study all nght. And, why I put us such a fight. Because one day, a Nurse I will be. To help people like you and me. 
Nurse Submitted by Paul Nickerson - 
Paul is not a Nurse, but his Mother , now retired, was for many years. Paul found this poem tucked away in a small photo album belonging to his mother. It was a game we all played as a child Then some of us made it a dream worthwhile More to learn, not as much time to share Because in our hearts we really cared We have worked the late night hours While others slept away Handles a doctor's many moods Then found time to pray Critical moments that remain as memories Some sad - then some are good Then there are the tragedies That will never be understood We see a newborn baby smile As we watch another slip away And that completes the circle The price for life's that paid Sometimes not appreciated When just a hug will do We are proud of our profession A guift from me to you 
Another Goodbye By Jennifer Huff, 
LPN I said goodbye to you today. In my own quiet way. A hidden tear was shed. Tribute to the life you led. Empty chair, an unspoken reminder of you. Too soon to be filled by a patient so new. Numb to the pain of so many goodbyes. Sorrow hidden, secretly brushing tears from my eyes. You joined the others who paved the way for you. The leader, the song-man, the fiesty one, too. The one who decided that he'd just had enough. Saying farewell to you all has been so tough. I like to imagine you are all gathered up there. Playing poker, having feasts, so many stories to share. No more restrictions on fluid and food. No longer chained to disease, it is as it should. Those of us left behind, keep your memory alive. Working hard every day to help others survive. Chair no longer empty, a new soul to tend. Hidden tears suppressed. A new beginning to the end. 
The Cute Little Lady in The Pink Sweater By Dawn Maselli, 
RN They can take my meal away before I'm done They can talk to me like I'm dumb They can refer to me as a "Feeder" Fluff me up to make me look neater They talk about me like I'm not Here They address me as "honey" "cutie and "dear". But there are things they can't do to me As they insult my dignity Oh there are things they can't do to me They can't take away my memories My Roles through this life cement my presence With withered mind they call senescence I am rich in culture, wisdom and knowledge That medical people can't learn in college I am a mother, a sister, a historian, a wife I have mastered many roles throughout my life I created warm meals in my day I wiped my children's tears away I cared for a close knit family Who look up to and value me And now I master another role Dependent patient with golden soul If just one of "them" would sit with me I'd share with them this history And if one would stay awhile I'd teach them that I'm still God's child. They are so busy this I know I have aged and have gotten slow This I must share in written word I may not be seen but I will be heard They say I'm anxious, noisy and loud This life has taught me not to be too proud I am too many things to capture in a letter I am so much more than the lady in the pink sweater If you've  listened from the start I may help you find your heart.
Assignment By Kim Jordan 
RN I have nine patients, you are but one I will walk five miles before I am done Tiptoeing in and out of the rooms Darkened and quiet like silent tombs I try not to wake you, for there is no time When trying to divide eight hours by nine. 
It is my duty Dawn Butler, RN (Pennsylvania)
I walk through those doors with pride,  Who's life will i save tonight? Someone is waiting for me, Someone is alive today because of my duty. Sometimes we cry cause we can't save them all,  God sometimes won't let us interfere when he calls. A baby's first breath when he looks at me, The joy of my first delivery. The tear i wipe a way with my own hands,  The life ending of a gentle old man. The night seems so dark and the morning so bright. Being a nurse you see life in a different light. Who will i save tonight? Who will hold my hand during their last breath with no fright? Who will enter this world on my shift? How many mothers will greet their babies with a kiss?  I don't know who these special people are but i will meet them with every call I will hold them tight and help the pain I will hold them up when they feel faint. I will be strong when i am needed That is my job, I am a nurse..that is my duty.  
Lily of The Valley By Paul Lawrence Dunbar. 
At the time this was written, the Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing
flower was the Lily-of-theValley and Paul Lawrence Dunbar has just been
a patient at the hospital. This was his tribute to the students. Sweetest of the flowers a blooming In the fragrant vernal days, Is the Lily-of-the-Valley With its soft retiring ways. Well, you chose this humble blossom, As the Nurse's emblem flower Who grows more like her idea Every day and every hour Like the Lily-of-the-Valley In her honesty and worth  - Oh! She blooms in truth and virtue In the humble works of earth. Though she stands erect in honor When the heart of mankind bleeds, Still she hides her own deserving In the beauty of her deeds. In the silence and the darkness, When no eye may see or know, There her footsteps shod with mercy and fleet kindness, come and go. Not amid the sound of plaudits, Not before the garish day; Does she shed her soul's sweet perfume, Does she take her gentle way.  But alike her ideal flower, With its honey-laden breath; Still her heart blooms forth its beauty In the valley shades of death.
Assignment By Kim Jordan, 
RN I have nine patients, you are but one I will walk five miles before I am done Tiptoeing in and out of the rooms Darkened and quiet like silent tombs I try not to wake you, for there is no time When trying to divide eight hours by nine. 
Look Closer - A Nurse's Reply Liz Hogben 
This was sent in by Mrs B Boyle.  I came across this poem, when my mother was in the nursing home it was place in the rooms there,  believe it's a reply to the poem, "A Young Girl Still Dwells"

What do we, you ask, what do we see ?
Yes, we are thinking when looking at thee!
We may seem to be hard when we hurry and fuss,
But there's many of you and too few of us.
We would like far more time to sit by you and talk,
To bath you and feed you and help you to walk,
To hear of your lives and the things you have done;
Your childhood, your husband, your daughter, your son,
But time is against us, there's too much to do-
Patients too many and nurses too few.
We grieve when we see you so sad and alone,
With nobody near you, no friends of your own.
We feel all your pain, and know of your fear
That nobody cares now your end is so near.


But nurses are people with feelings as well,
And when we're together, you'll often hear tell
Of the dearest old Gran in the very end bed,
And the lovely old Dad, and the things that he said,
We speak with compassion and love, and feel sad
When we think of yours and the joy that you've had.
When the time has arrived for you to depart,
You leave us behind with an ache in our heart.


When you sleep the long sleep, no more worry or care,
There are other old people, and we mist be there.
So please understand if we hurry and fuss--
There are many of you and too few of us.


I Gave My First Injection Today 

Sent in by Misspr@aol.com
I gave my first injection today,
now wait before you get bored and want to walk away
its been a long road to get where I'm at,
15 years to be precise now what do you think of that?
This has been my life's dream to take care of the sick and work with a team of caring professionals with all the same goal of ridding aches and pains and doing work that's not in vain.
So maybe now I have your attention so I can tell you my story  and you possibly won't find it so boring
I gave my first injection today
and my patient didn't flinch
she said she didn't feel a thing.
What a wonderful compliment that she gave to me
"a wonderful nurse you are going to be". 
I also passed meds and cleaned lots of wounds and held alot of hands before I walked from the rooms.
You wonder how can I be so happy in all this misery?
you see I guess I see it different than the average Joe,
before you think I am crazy just let me explain.
If I can ease just one pain or dry just one eye or offer just one daughter some comfort when she finds out her mother has just died.
I have accomplished my task and have been successful in my goals
to have offered a hand when life has taken its tolls.
See I have been truly blessed to have touched these lives and pray I never find it boring or bothersome to do the meaningless of task.
Even when the most trying of patients call and ask.
My goal is to answer every time with a smile
and ask for forgiveness when I can't
after I have gone mile after mile. 
Have I told you yet I gave my first injection today.
I am a student nurse and for dedication I pray.